NYA lays out ‘roadmap’ to reopen youth work settings

The advice aims to help youth workers prepare for the government’s gradual easing of lockdown.

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Restrictions will be lifted in four main stages, Boris Johnson announced last month, starting from next week with the reopening of schools to 21 June when all legal limits on social contact may come to an end.

From 8 March when schools reopen for all pupils, youth organisations will be able to support groups of vulnerable young people indoors and outdoors, said NYA chief executive Leigh Middleton in a webinar released this week.

Youth workers can also continue to deliver online and virtual support, detached and outreach support outdoors and 1-2-1 support for young people indoors, which are currently already permitted.

In addition, they will be able to support groups for young people indoors and outdoors if their parents need to go to work, they are being home educated or need the support of youth services for training or exams.

Middleton says that it is the responsibility of parents not to send their children to youth provision if they do not meet the criteria.

“It is not the responsibility of the youth sector to test or check that young people attending meet any of these criteria,” he adds.

Middleton also stresses that the dates given by the government for the further easing of lockdown will be based on how well the country is dealing with the pandemic.

“It [the government] is setting a series of tests that as a nation we must pass. If we pass those tests we will be given one week’s notice of when we will move to the next step,” says Middleton.

“We do not want you to rush out and book and plan activities that commit you to spending money or your time until we are really clear that we have the date to move to the next step,” he warns youth organisations.

The next likely step for easing restrictions, if such tests are passed, could start as early as 29 March, when open youth groups for up to 15 young people outdoors will be permitted.

Such provision will be open to all young people, not just those who are vulnerable or are in need of support for training, home education or because their parents need to work, the NYA says.

Trips and visits are allowed from this date, although residential support, including camping and international travel are still banned, adds Middleton.

“You should try and stay local,” he says.

From 12 April open youth groups for up to 15 young people indoors as well as outdoors may be permitted, under the government’s planned roadmap out of lockdown.

Around a month later, but not before 17 May, ‘bubble’ sizes may be increased. The NYA has confirmed that leaders and workers are not counted as part of bubbles, which only applies to the young people being supported.

Also, at this stage residential support in the UK, including camping but not including international travel, may be permitted.

The final stage, which will not be implemented before 21 June, could see international travel permitted. However, restrictions on group sizes may still be required at this stage.

At each stage youth organisations are urged to ensure their action and risk assessment plans are kept up to date and that face coverings are warn when needed.

Read the full guidance here.